A clean sweep in Thurso has never been straightforward
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Thurso's Heritage by a Thirsa Loon
In the town of Thurso, amidst the ebb and flow of everyday life, a group of often unsung employees exists. They are the refuse collectors and street sweepers, the dedicated individuals who labour tirelessly to keep our streets clean and remove rubbish from our homes.
Their story, however, remains a largely untold tale, often overshadowed by grander accounts in the annals of history. But make no mistake, our town would be chaotic without them.
Their original title was far less grandiose than today. It was 182 years ago when the Thurso Police Commissioners appointed the town’s first “scavenger”.
In 1841, Francis Steven, a 30-year-old labourer residing on Rose Street, received the instruction to promptly clear all dunghills and other refuse from open and exposed areas. His wage amounted to a mere 2 pence per hour. The Commissioners reminded him that his services would continue until he received 14 days’ notice.
But it wasn’t until the following year that he was bestowed with the tools of his trade – a barrow and “a dozen birch brooms” procured from Newcastle for “scraping the streets”. Armed with these simple implements, Francis removed the debris that had accumulated.
The following year saw John Murray employed as a carter, tasked with collecting and transporting refuse and dunghills not already removed by the owners to the depot, earning him a rate of 5 pence per hour.
The dung was then periodically sold throughout the year to the highest bidder at the town depot. Initially, the Commissioners didn’t generate significant revenue, but in 1876, they amassed £59 6d 10s. Two decades after the initial appointment, in 1861, the town’s cleaning services were contracted out to James Swanson, who received an annual payment of £20.
Missing refuse collection was not uncommon, even in those days. So, to address this, the public received a notice and route for the scavenger cart, which had a bell to provide advance notice of its approach. Despite improvements, the scavengers’ superiors were occasionally interfering with their rounds.
With no proper organisation, there were concerns about the disposal and removal of food waste known as slop, hence the term “slopping out” and night soil – human excrement and urine from chamber pots.
In 1866, a writer emphasised the importance of regularly sweeping the streets, noting that “The scavengers were ever scrubbing and scraping the streets, ever lashing with their brooms in the strands… and when the rain falls freely, they have no trouble at all with that which used to be their greatest nuisance, namely ‘the strands’.”
He also noted, “Scavengers are not seen in some streets for years; that may not be their fault, but it is a fault, and an omission which must not longer continue.”
And yet, 157 years later, we find ourselves grappling with similar issues. The management fails to designate a mechanical road sweeper at the Sir Archibald Road depot, and the number of barrow men permanently stationed remains insufficient.
The consequences of these shortcomings are familiar – blocked drainage systems choked with weeds, leaves, and dirt. The absence of regular sweeping unleashes havoc upon our streets, particularly felt by the shopkeepers of Traill Street and elsewhere when heavy rains descend.
Progress, it seems, is not without its limitations, especially when budgetary constraints erode the foundations of basic and essential services.
- To get in touch, contact thursoheritage1@gmail.com
